Method and apparatus for transferring threadlike articles



A. H. BUR l-(HOLDER METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING THREADLIKEARTICLES Oct. 4, 1938.

2 Sheets-Sheet l y a A HH- Huuuh Ii 12. \HHHHHHHHHI h Ill-l OriginalFiled July 10, 1933 m A u 4 Oct. 4, 1938. 2,131,723

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING THREADLIKE ARTI LE'S A. H.BURK-HOLDER sis-sheet 2 Original Filed July 10, 1933 2 She INVENTOR BYi/aex; flw'k/m/dez' zgg gz u j Patented. at. 4, 193% anus METHODAPPARATUS FOR SFER- RING THREADIJKE ARTICLES Alden H. Burkholder,Lakewood, Ohio, assignor to Industrial Rayon Corporation, Cleveland,Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application July. 10, 1933,.Serlal No.679,640 Renewed April 16, 1937 I 14 Claims.

tificial silk thread from a reel and transferring it to another reel orto a packaging device or the like.

In the manufacture of artificial silk thread, particularly by theviscose process, it has been proposed to subject the thread to thevarious operations necessary for its completion by running the threadfrom the spin bath'over a plurality of reels, acting as thread storedevices, on each of which some one operation,'such as washing,desulphurizing, souring, drying, etc., is performed. As described inBritish Patent No. 413,413 this continuous spinning process is performedwhile an individual thread passes over a given reel in helix form,traveling from one end of the reel to the other. After having been, ineffect, stored thereon for a sufficient length of time to permit thedesired operation to take place, the thread then descends to the nextlower reel, placed thereunder, where it travels across the second reelin helix form but in the reverse direction. In a full-sized machine,each row of reels handles one thread through all stages from the spinbath-to the packaging device. Unit reels are preferably used; i. e.,reels which carry onlyone thread, but it is also possible to employlonger reels which carry a larger number of threads.

These reels are preferably of a special construction adapted to causethe thread to travel along their surfaces in helix form during rotationthereof. For example, such a reel may consist of two inter-meshing cagesmade up of lat.- erally extending bars. Conveniently the cages may beboth' offset and canted with respect -to each other, in which case thelaterally extending bars may be formed integrally with the other partsof the cages. Such a construction is shown and describedin BritishPatent No. 413,414. Regardless, however, of the particular type ofconstruction employed, it is characteristic of such reels that relativemovement of the bars comprising one cage with respect to thosecomprising the other results in the thread being moved laterally acrossthe periphery of the reel.

In continuous spinning machines utilizing a multiplicity of suchreels,it is obviously necessary in the initial setting up operation which putsthe machine as a whole into operation to accomplish (01. 18 -8) clingtothe reel bars as a result of surface tensiona As the turns of threadprogress bodily along a reel, it is necessary to detach the leading endfrom the reel bars and conduct it to the next reel or take-up device, toaccomplish which the invention provides a method and means,'operatingindependently of the reel bars, for positively and with certaintyproducing a free leading end when the thread reaches the discharge endof the reel. This it does, forexample, by breaking,

tearing or otherwise severing the thread at a point back of the actualleading end thereof to insure a free leading end, after which the newlyestablished leading end is freed from the reel and allowed to unwindtherefrom to an extent sufficient to enable it to carry or be carriedover to the next succeeding reel or takeup device. The short portion ofthread between the original leading end and the point of severance isdiscarded and thrown to waste, as will appear.

It is, accordingly, an object of the invention to provide a method ofpositively removing a newly formed leading end of thread or the likefrom a rotating surface and transferring the same to another location orsurface in such manner that the running of the thread or the like is notinterrupted. Another object of the invention. is to provide a mechanismfor removing thread or the like from a rotating surface and transferringthis to another location, such as a rotating surface. Although theinvention isadapted for use in connection with any process of makingthread or the like and particularly the cuprammonium, cellulose'mitrate,cellulose acetate and viscose proc-- esses of manufacturing artificialsilk thread, it is especially valuable in connection with a process forthe production of viscose artificial silk thread utilizing a pluralityof reels and will be described more particularly in relation thereto,although no limitation is thereby implied. In fact, the method andapparatus of the present invention may be found useful wherever it 'isnecessary to transfer thread or the like from one rotating surface toanother, especially if the article to be transferred is wet and tends tocling to the surface from which-it is to be removed. In the drawings,which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention, Fig. 1 is afront elevation of a portion of a continuous spinning machine with thetransfer mechanism in place; Fig. 2 is a section taken along the line2-2 of Fig.1;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of a modified form of the invention; Fig. 4is a section taken along the line lined-4 of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5 is asection taken thread may run horizontally from reel to reel,"

the transfer mechanism being appropriately disposed to accord with thedirection given the thread. For the purposes of the present invention,the manner of transferring a thread between two reels illustrates themanner in which this will be done for all of the reels howeverdisposed,only a multiplication of units being necessary for extensiveinstallations.

In starting a machine of this kind involving a. plurality of reels, thereels are started rotating, after which the thread being formed is ledfrom the nozzle or other source (not shown) through appropriate guidesand is applied to the receiving end of the first reel. Succeedinghelical turns of thread are now formed and caused to progress toward thereel discharge end. When they reach it, it is obviously necessary totake off a free leading end and carry it over and apply it to thereceiving end of the second reel, upon which threads are formed andcaused to progress with like necessity for subsequent transfer.

According to the present invention, the carry over from the dischargeend of one reel to the receiving end of the next reel is accomplished asfollows:-

As the leading turns of spread approach and reach the discharge end ofthe first reel, regardless of whether the actual leading endis washedunder or bound beneath following turns there is applied to the rotatingreel and to the threads thereon at a point near the discharge end of thereel some suitable device which will have the effect of cutting,breaking, tearing, shearing or otherwise severing the thread back of theactual leading end, thereby creating a new free leading end. The sameact may instigate a stripping or unwinding action, or, in other words,free a part of the thread at the new leading end in such manner that thefollowing thread tends to unwind as the result of either or both ofgravity and centrifugal force. As the new leading end unwinds from thereel, it can be made to touch the following reel. If the two reels arehorizontal, the thread can be carried across by mechanical meansl Wherethe second reel is beneath the first, the unwinding thread can descendby gravity. In any event, as soon as the thread touches or is applied tothe secondreel, surface tension causes it to cling thereto, whereupon itbegins to wind thereon and to progress toward the discharge end thereof.

Such results may be accomplished by any suitable means, for example, bymeans of a brush held in the hand. The brush is applied to the threadsat the discharge end of the first reel and and the new leading end maymove away with-' out being entangled with the brush bristles.

Preferably, the device is utilized, so far as possible, to assist indirecting or leading the thread to or toward the second reel, either bymoving said device over to and applying it to the second reel so as tocause the thread to begin winding thereon or by moving the device to aposition near to but not quite touching the second reel, in which casethe following thread will loop or billow out and ultimately touch thereel and begin winding thereon.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the reels I, 2 and 8 are mounted in a frame,of which one of the uprights 4 has been illustrated. Each horizontal rowof reels is surrounded by a housing 5 which confines the liquid andspray showered onto the thread and reel. This liquid may be any one ofthe various solutions or washes applied to the thread during the processof treatment and is distributed over the reel and thread by a perforatedpipe 6 mother suitable device. The liquid is collected in a trough l atthe bottom of the housing and is returned to the distributing device bymeans of a pump diagrammatically indicated at l.

On a vertical face of the upper of two housings is mounted a guide 9extending down to the next lower housing at an angle "to the line ofcenters of the two enclosed reels. The guide is attached to the lowercasing by means of a bracket Ill and has a slot H in which slides athread-contacting device comprising a brush l2 provided with a handleIS. A spring I is preferably provided and is attached to the brush atone end and to the guide 9 at the other end. This brush constitutes ameans by which the thread on the reel I can be engaged and carried downto the I quarter of an inch in width, projects through a narrow slot I 6in the'housing 5, the handle 13 being outside the housing. This slot isso cut, as shown, that the brush has a free path of travel from theupper reel down to the housing on the lower reel .where another narrowslot I1 is cut to permit contact of the transferred thread with thesecond reel. Thus, the casing of each reel, except the top and bottomreels in a given file, will be provided with two slots to accommodatethe thread running between the reels.

It will be noted that the guide 9, while being positioned close enoughto the upper reel I so that the brush l2 contacts with the surface ofsuch reel or at least with the thread on such surface, slopes away fromthe lower reel 2 so that the brush does not contact with such reel.

This results in the formation of a loop of thread l8, since the threadcontinues to run off the reel I. after it has followed the brush alongthe line ill, the loop I8 forming in the space between the brush and thereel 2 until such time as the loop has swung into contact with thesurface of the reel 2 and commences to be wound thereon. Thereafter thethread will follow a direct line from reel I to reel 2, being pulledfree from the brush 'by the winding action of reel 2.

While there has been described above a mechanism which transfers athread and from one rotating reel to another rotating reel by bringingIt is also possible to omit the brush into actual contact with thesecond reel,

it may also be desired to control the transfer of the thread end at alltimes from the instant when the thread end leaves the first reel to theinstant when it touches the second reel. A mechanism for doing this isillustrated in Figs. 3 and .4 of the drawings in which the guide 20 ispositioned parallel to the line of centers of the two reels l' and 2'instead of being positioned at an angle thereto. The brush and operatingspring may be of identical characteristics with those previouslydescribed but the spring is necessarily'attached at a point below orbeyond the axis of the second reel, say at the point 2|.

Under the influence of the spring M, the brush normally assumes theposition 22 indicated in dot ted lines. It is adapted to be raisedmanually to the position 23 in contact with the surface of the reel Iwhere a slot IS in the reel housing 5 is provided to receive it. Uponrelease, the spring draws the brush downwardly through a slot l1 in thehousing of the lower reel and into contact with the reel itself at thepoint 24. At this point, the thread end, whichhas been severed from reelI and carried downward by the brush, comes into contact with the surfaceof reel 2' while the brush l2 continues its travel a sufficient distanceto clear the reelsurface. At the instant of contact,

a the thread commences to be-wound on the surface of reel 2' and is tornaway'from the brush I? which remains in its lowermost position untilan-' other transfer requires to be effected. 'In order to insure thatthe thread will not be torn or severed from the'second'reel, leafsprings 25 are provided at the lower part of; the groove ll of suchstrength as to slow down the movement of the brush, which is under theinfluence of the coil spring it, but not of sufiicient strength toprevent the brush from completing its travel and moving away from thesurface of reel 2'.

Of course, this modification of the invention or the precedingmodification can also be used where the thread does not run verticallyfrom reel to reel but runs horizontally or in any other di- .rectionthat may be found feasible. The mechanism just described is particularlyuseful where it cages, as mentioned, rotating on axes 26 and 21,

both offset and -canted with respect to one an.- other, and made up ofbars 28 and 29. The reels are driven through shafts 3| by means ofpulleys 32 and 33 driven by belts 34,;the belts eventually leading to apower source through which the entire installation may be driven. As aresult of the offset and canted relation of the cages making up thereels, the thread is advanced axially of the reels, When the threadreaches the end thereof, as observed through a window 31 in the casing,it is time to start it running on the next reel, which operates in thesame manner.

This is done by bringing the brush I2 manually against the end ofthereel I and engaging one or more turns of thread, depending on how farthe helix of thread has advanced toward the end of the reel and on theposition and width of the brush. It is only necessary to engage thethread at one point, but the action is not altered if more than one turnis engaged. Thebrush, either at the moment when it contacts-with thereel or when it is released for return to its position opposite the reel2, tears, cuts, abrades or otherwise severs the thread on the reel l,the exact nature of the severing action being immaterial, and thusprovides a free end which is carried down to the reel 2 and startedwinding on that reel. The action of the brush is such as to start a freeend running on of the reel regardless of the. condition of the thread. 7

Whatever theposition of the actual thread end, the brush severs thethread at a point far enough back from the true end so that a free newend is formed and started running off the reel. The portionof threadbetween the break and the true end of the thread may adhereto the brushor to the upper reel and is not used: It is' usually of short length andeventually is collected as waste. The thread end may either bedisengaged from the first reel and allowed to fall by gravity onto thenext reel where this latter is properly positioned below the first reelto enable such action to take place or the thread end may be carriedfrom one reel to the other, constituting a completely controlledtransfer, either where the thread runs downwardly from one reel toanother or where the thread runs horizontally and gravity cannot beutilized in effecting the transfer.

After the threadhas been transferred to the second reel, such as reel 2,it commences to wind on this reel in helix form but travels inthereverse direction, although winding in the same direction, to that ofthe thread winding on the first reel. When it has approached theopposite" end of this second reel, it must be again transferred to stillanjotherreel, such as the reel 3; and this is done by another transfermechanism 38 similar in all respects to that previously described butpositioned adjacent the opposite end of the row of reels. The thread istransferred by this mechanism to the third reel and travels thereon. inthe same direction as the thread on reel l. The transfer mechanisms andtransfer method are duplicated until the thread reaches I the end of thelast reel. From this point it is run off to a packaging device or isotherwise collected as finished thread.

It will be seen that the herein described'mech anism insures theformation of a thread end on a given reel even if the true end is woundunder subsequent turns. It serves to detach this end in a positivemanner so that the thread immediately commences to run off the reel.Often this is' all that is necessary in order that the thread willcollect in another locationbut it may be further controlled through partor all of the distance to another reel or location if desired. Thus thethread may be engaged and controlled until it reaches a point closelyadjacent the "reel to which it is to be transferred or is actuallytouched to. such reel and is there held until it makes contact with thissecond reel and commences winding thereon. There is no possibility ofthe thread refusing to leave the surface of the first reel, no matterhow wet it may be. The action is prompt and certain, an importantconsideration, since each thread end must be transferred to severalreels in series and there are a large number of such ends to be handled.1

While a preferred mechanism for manual transfer of a thread from onepoint of contact to another has been disclosed herein, it will berealized that the method described may also be performed by othermechanism. Also, the brush described may be replaced by otherthread-engaging devices and the guiding mechanism may be altered withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention. It is intended that thepatent shall cover, by suitable expression in the appended claims,whatever features of patentable novelty resides in the -invention. I

What is claimed is:

' 1. In a thread processing machine, the combination which comprises aplurality of rotatable members on each of which the thread issuccessively temporarily stored for treatment and a thread take-offdevice positioned adjacent the periphery of each of said members forremoving a thread end from one member and positively carrying it to thesucceeding member.

2. In a thread processing machine, the combination which comprises aplurality of rotatable members on each of which the thread issuccessively continuously wound in helix form and a transfer devicebetween each two .rotatable members for causing an advancing thread endto pass from one'rotatable member to the next.

3. Apparatus for removing a thread-like article from a rotatingcylindrical surface which comprises guides positioned with one endadjacent brought mm contactwith a thread-like article on Y one of saidreels, and a spring attached to said brush, a guide for said brushmounted to one side of said reels'and positioned the thickness of saidbrush away from said reels, and a spring attached to said brush forbringing said brush into contact with at least one of said reels. A

6. A method of transferring athread-like article from one rotatingsurface to a similar rotating surface which comprises interrupting thecontinuity of the thread-like article while it is in contact with theperiphery of the first rotating surface and bringing into contactwitlrthe periphery of the second rotating surface the new leading endthereby formed.

7. A method of transferring a thread-like article from one rotatingsurface to a similar rotating surface which comprises severing thethread-like article while it is in contact with the periphery of thefirst rotating surface, mechanically engaging the new. leading endthereby formed, and

bringing said new leading end into contact with the periphery of thesecond rotating surface.

8. Apparatus comprising a source of threadlike material: a plurality ofvertically spaced thread store devices each of which is adapted toadvance said thread-like material in an approximately helical path; andpositively operating transfer means capable of passing the leading endof said thread-like material from one thread store device to another.

9. Apparatus comprising a source of threadlike material; a plurality ofvertically spaced thread store devices each of which is adapted toadvance said thread-like material in an approximately helical path; andpositively operating 11. A thread processing machine comprising aplurality of functionally independent threadstorage, thread-advancingreels and, operatively associated with at least one of saidthread-storage, thread-advancing reels, positively operating transfermeans capable of transmitting from one of said thread-storage,thread-advancing reels to another the leading end of the thread beingprocessed on said machine.

12. A thread processing machine comprising a" plurality of functionallyindependent threadstorage, thread-advancing reels and,.operativelyassociated with at least one of said thread-storage, thread-advancingreels, positively operating transfer means capable of mechanicallyengaging and transmitting from one of said threadstorage,thread-advancing reels to another the leading end of the thread beingprocessed on said machine.

13. A thread processing machine comprising a plurality of functionallyindependent threadstorage, thread-advancing reels and, operativelyassociated with at least one of said threadstorage, thread-advancingreels, positively operating transfer means capable of mechanicallyengaging the leading end of the thread being processed on said machinefor transferring the thread from one thread-storage, thread-advancingreel to another.

14. In a thread processing machine, the combination which comprises aplurality of rotatable members on each of which the thread issuccessively temporarily stored in generally helical form and a transferdevice between each two- ALDEN 1r. BURKHOLDER.

of said

